Folding shipping-case.



No. 898,049. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

M. HUTCHINSON.

FOLDING SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L //VVENTOR A TTORNE VS No. 898,049. PATENTED SEPT. s, 1908. M. HUTOHINSON.

FOLDING SHIPPING CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAILZQ, 1907.

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WITNESSES MCZZCOZWZ HZZZ'CIZZ IZJOM, [/VVE/V TOR A TTOR/VE Y5 MALCOLM HUTCHINSON, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING SHIPPING-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Application filed March 29, 1907. Serial No. 365,353.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MALCOLM HUTCHIN- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county ofMuskegon and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Shi ping-Case, of which the following is a speci 'cation.

This invention relates to folding boxes or shipping cases of that general class especially designed for storing or shipping general mer chandise such as canned goods, cereals, dry goods, foot wear and other commodities and has for its object to provide a strong, durable and thoroughly efficient box or case capable of being quickly set up for use and compactly folded for storage or return shipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping case having pivotally united side panels or sections the walls of which are formed of veneer, fiber board or similar material and reinforced and strengthened by the provision of longitudinal and transverse cleats.

A further object is to form the side panels of the case with lateral extensions or flaps which overlap the adjacent end panels when the crate is set up for use and serve to seal the corners of the crate and also permit thepanels to be folded one upon the other when the crate is knocked down for storage or return shipment.

A further object is to provide a removable bottom section which bears against the end flaps or extensions of the side panels and serves to lock the end flaps in closed position, said bottom section being provided with a marginal flap or flange which by engagement with the adjacent panels of the crate constitutes a continuous seal or closure for the bot tom of said crate.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and emciency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will ap pear in the following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding shipping case constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly in section showing the crate with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the crate in knocked down or collapsed position. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of the pivotal connection between the side panels. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View showing the manner of fastening the fiber boards in position on the frames of the panels. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shipping case illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a perspective view partly in section of the case with the cover removed. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the case illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 in knocked down or folded position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved shipping case forming the subject matter of the present invention includes side sections or panels 5 and end sections or panels 6, said panels being pivotally united so that the same may be compactly folded one upon the other for transportation or return shipment, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The side sections or panels 5 are formed of substantially rectangular frames consisting of longitudinal bars 7 connected by vertical bars or end posts 8. Secured to the frame of each side panel or section is astrip of fiber board, wood veneer, card board or other suitable material which forms a clo sure for the frame and constitutes the panel proper, said card board or veneer being secured to the longitudinal and vertical bars in any suitable manner, as by staples 9. The piercing points of the staples 9 are preferably inclined or beveled in opposite directions, as indicated at 10 so that when the staples are driven into the adjacent bar the piercing points will be forced together and thus effectually prevent withdrawal of said staples. The end sections or panels 6 are also formed of longitudinal bars 11 to which is stapled or otherwise rigidly secured a strip of card-board, wood veneer or the like, said longitudinal bars 11 being extended laterally beyond the adjacent vertical edge of the card board to form terminal arms 12 which overlap the adjacent longitudinal bars 7 of the side frames and are pivotally connected with the side frames by means of rivets or pins 13.

Attention is here called to the fact that the pivot pins 13 pierce the arms 12 and the adjacent longitudinal bars 7 and are driven into when the latter is set up for use.

the end posts 8 thus serving to combine the longitudinal bars 7 with the end posts and 'at the same time form'a pivotal connection between the side and end panels of the crate.

The opposite ends of the card board, veneer or other material forming the side walls or panels of the crate are extended laterally to form terminal flaps 14 which over-lap the interior walls of the end panels and form a seal or closure for the corners of the crate The sealing flaps 14 are preferably formed by creasing or scoring the material forming the side walls, as indicated at 15 so that the flaps 14 not only serve to seal the corners of the case but also permit the panels to be folded laterally one upon the other when the crate is knocked down for transportation or shipment.

Combined with the crate is a removable bottom section 1.6 also preferably formed of card board, veneer or similar material having its lower face reinforced and strengthened by j a plurality of spaced longitudinal cleats 17 which are secured to the card board preferably by staples 18 similar in construction to the staples 9. The material forming the bottom section 16 is bent upwardly to form a vertically disposed marginal flange 19 which by engagement with the interior walls of the adjacent'panels serves to form an air and moisture tight joint at the bottom of the crate. The bottom section 16 rests on the lower longitudinal bars 11 of the end walls 6 and by engagement with the flaps 14 serve to lock the sealing flaps against the adjacent end walls and thus efiectually seal the corners of the crate. A suitable cover or closure I 20 is preferably interposed between the upper longitudinal bars 11 of the end walls and fastened in position on the crate by means of nails, screws or similar fastening devices 21.

In order to knock down the box or case for storage or shipment the top or cover 20 is first removed after which the bottom section 16 exerting a slight lateral pull on the end walls 5 which will cause the side and end panels of the crate to assume the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings after which the bottom section 16 is introduced through the top of the crate and pressed downwardly in engagement with the lower longitudinal bars 1 1 of the end walls thus locking the panels or sections in assembled position and pressing the flaps 14 in engagement with the interior walls of the end panels so as to form an effective closure for the several corners of the box, as well as for the bottom thereof.

The end walls 6 are preferably reinforced and strengthened by the provision of hori- Zontal and vertical cleats 22 and 23 which are secured to the exterior face of the card board rial as the-side and end walls of the crate instead of being formed of boards or slats, as shown in Fig. 1. In this form of the device the cover 20 as well as the side and end walls of the crate are reinforced and strengthened by the provision of one or more transverse cleats or bars 22 which bear against the card board, wood, veneer or other material forming the panels and serve to prevent said panels from buckling or warping. The bottom section is also provided with one or more transverse reinforcing bars 23 which engage the longitudinal cleats 17 and thus assist in sustaining the weight of the contents of the crate. The bars 23 are pivotally connected at 24 with the adjacent lower longitudinal bars 7 of the side panels so that when the bottom section is removed the bar 23 may be folded laterally on the pivots 24, thereby to permit the crate to be folded or collapsed, as best illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

A box or shipping case constructed in the manner described is light in weight and strong and durable in construction and may be readily knocked down or folded forstorage or return shipment to the consignor.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A folding shipping, case including side and end panels having their adjacent ends pivotally united, some of said panels being provided with end flaps adapted to overlap adjacent panels to form a seal at the juncture of said panels, and a bottom section engaging the inner faces of the end flaps for locking the panels in assembled position.

2. A folding shipping case including side and end panels having their adjacent ends pivotally united, some of said panels being provided with extensions constituting end flaps adapted to overlap adjacent panels, a bottom section combined with the crate and engaging the side and end panels for locking the same against pivotal movement, and a continuous marginal flange extending vertically from the bottom section and bearing against the inner faces of the end flaps for locking said flaps in engagement with the adj acent panels, the marginal flange being severed at each corner of the bottom section.

3. A foldin shipping case including side and end panels having their adjacent ends pivotally united, some of said panels being provided with vertical creases forming foldable end flaps adapted to overlap the interior walls of adjacent panels, and a bottom section interposed between the side and end panels and bearing against the inner faces of the end flaps for locking the panels against pivotal movement.

4. A folding shipping case including end panels, side panels pivotally connected with the. end panels and provi ed with vertical creases defining terminal flaps adapted to engage the inter10r walls of the end panels at the corners of the case, a bottom section combined with the case and adapted to engage the side and end panels for locking the same against pivotal movement, and a marginal flange flexibly connected with the bottom section and adapted to bear against the inner faces of the side panels and the inner faces of the end flaps for locking the panels against ivotal movement.

5. A folding shipping case including side and end panels having their adjacent ends pivotally united and foldable together when the case is collapsed, some of said panels being provided wlth terminal flaps adapted to overlap the interior walls of adjacent panels at the corners of the case, and a bottom section provided with a vertically disposed marginal flange adapted to bear against the inner faces of the side panels and the inner faces of the end flaps for locking the end flaps in engagement with the adjacent panels, said flange being provided with vertical slits at the corners of the bottom section.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MALCOLM HUTCHINSON.

Witnesses:

MARTIN TRAP, N. T. THOMSON. 

